This is your stomach in its natural state, with important vessels and organs shown behind it. There is 1cm or less of space between all of the major organs.

First, a safety pocket is created by gently pulling down on the fat pad at the top of the stomach. This pocket that opens up along natural planes increases the space between the organs and is crucial to the enhanced safety of the procedure.

Then, the blood vessels at the bottom of the stomach are cut.

The bottom of the stomach is now free.

A tube is inserted to help make the stomach the correct size, and the stapler begins to divide the stomach.

The stapler is removed when it reaches the top section of the stomach. A tunnel is then created with careful dissection, to make a safe, precise path for the stapler between the back of the stomach and important blood vessels.

The stapler finishes dividing the stomach, using the tunnel as a guide. The tip of the stapler comes out into the safetl pocket, and important blood vessels and organs are avoided.

The cut portion of the stomach can now be lifted and moved out of the way so the vessels attaching the spleen to the stomach can be easily seen and cut.

The cut portion of the stomach is removed, leaving you with your new small sleeve of a stomach. Since none of the remaining sleeve was handled or disturbed during the procedure, there is an increased level of safety.